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Clean, healthy waterways are vital to our day-to-day lives, from the water we drink to the recreational opportunities for which Maine is known and loved. NRCM is working hard to protect and restore Maine’s lakes, rivers, and streams, now and for generations to come In-Depth Project Description

	Cleaning Up the Androscoggin River Ensuring clean up of the Androscoggin River is a high priority for NRCM, and we will not stop until this once-mighty river is again a source of pride for the people of Maine. Learn More
	Edwards Dam and Kennebec Restoration In 1999, after 10 years of work by NRCM and our coalition partners, the Edwards Dam was removed from the Kennebec River in what is now a model for dam removal across the nation. Learn More
	Penobscot River Restoration Trust NRCM, along with the Penobscot Indian Nation and others, are members of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, a nonprofit corporation created to restore the Penobscot River back to the watershed that once supported millions of native Maine fish and other wildlife.  Learn More
	Clean & Free-flowing Waters Thanks largely to the Clean Water Act, Maine’s great rivers are much cleaner than they were 30 years ago. But we still have a long way to go to restore many of Maine’s great rivers. NRCM continues to make river restoration and protection a high priority.  Learn More

In-Depth Project Description

Clean, healthy rivers, lakes, and streams are vital to our day-to-day lives. They help ensure safe drinking water, suitable habitat for fish and other wildlife, and recreational opportunities that make Maine a special place to live, work, and visit.

But Maine's waterways face huge challenges. For decades, paper companies and other mills along Maine's rivers have treated these great waterways as their own private dumping grounds. The pollution they discharge prevents our native fish from thriving and impairs the quality of life for the people who live in those communities.

Pollution is one issue, dams are another. Dams continue to choke waterways across the state. While some dams are strategically located to minimize damage to fisheries and generate significant amounts of renewable electricity, other dams are obsolete or destroy fisheries resources that are worth far more than the small amount of power they generate.  

One such dam was the Edwards dam. NRCM’s work with coalition partners to remove the Edward’s Dam from the Kennebec has become a national model for success. Now, NRCM has teamed up with other groups to form the Penobscot River Restoration Trust to restore this vital watershed for the wildlife and people of Maine.

For decades, NRCM has served as the voice of Maine people by advocating for clean and healthy waterways. Find out more about the issues we work on and how you can get involved to ensure clean and healthy waters for Maine.